Could Alabama-Texas A&M end up as an appetizer?

Sep. 9, 2013
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Stanford Cardinal Ty Montgomery (7) runs away from San Jose State cornerback Forrest Hightower (12) during the fourth quarter of the Cardinals' 34-13 win Sept. 7 at Stanford Stadium. After this Saturday's game between Alabama and Texas A&M, Stanford's home game against Oregon on Nov. 7 might be the regular season's best remaining contest. / Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Saturday's game in College Station between No. 1 Alabama and No. 6 Texas A&M is the most highly anticipated matchup of college football's regular season. But when it's over, there will be more great matchups to come. Ranking the best remaining regular season games after Saturday:

1. Oregon at Stanford, Nov. 7. Perhaps no other game will have as significant an impact on the final pairing in the BCS National Championship Game. Judging by how the Ducks have looked through two weeks, the Cardinal's defense may be the only group capable of slowing Marcus Mariota and this potent offensive attack. The winner gets an open path to the title game; the loser should earn a trip to Pasadena, but for the Rose Bowl, not the national championship.

2. Florida State at Clemson, Oct. 19. Clemson is riding high after topping Georgia in the opener, handing the program successive wins against top-10 Southeastern Conference competition. Meanwhile, Florida State showed some of its capabilities in dismantling Pittsburgh in the opener â?? doing so in grand style, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. To the victor goes the Atlantic coast Conference's Atlantic Division title and, one would expect, the ACC title as a whole. The winner also could land the inside track to a perfect season.

3. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 9. The last two regular-season meetings have been memorable: LSU won 9-6 in 2011, Alabama 21-17 a year ago. If the Tide get past Texas A&M and LSU continues its recent offensive pace â?? the first may seem a touch likelier than the latter â?? this game will again decide the SEC West. The winner of the SEC West plays for the SEC title; the winner of the SEC plays for the national championship.

4. Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 30. The Buckeyes first have to sneak past a slew of unqualified Big Ten challengers but should reach the season finale in Ann Arbor at 11-0. The thought heading into the year was that the Wolverines, while strong, would not be a factor in the championship race. Did Saturday's win against Notre Dame alter Michigan's national credibility? If nothing else, the Wolverines proved they'll be a handful against the Buckeyes in the finale.

5. Baylor at Oklahoma State, Nov. 23. Texas is dropping. Oklahoma has quarterback issues, though the defense has seemingly rebounded after a down 2012. Kansas State is a work in progress. TCU remains a bit of an enigma. Texas Tech needs to prove itself against valid competition. Which teams currently lead the way in the Big 12? Try Oklahoma State and Baylor, two offensively potent teams with the talent and athleticism to run the table in advance of a late November meeting in Stillwater.

Paul Myerberg, a national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.